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UAE buzzing with Pepsi IPL excitement

With two weeks to go to the start of the Pepsi IPL 2014, a lot of excitement is anticipated, with the first leg of the tournament to be played in the United Arab Emirates.

Eight teams will strive to win the coveted trophy. They will display their cricketing skills between 16 April 2014 and 30 April 2014 at three different venues, in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. They will be watched by spectators, and TV viewers from across the world.

The firsts of 20 matches of the UAE leg will be played on 16 April 2014 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, with Mumbai Indians, the reigning champions, taking on Kolkata Knight Riders, the 2012 winners.

“I have spent a lot of time over the years in this wonderful country and it is great to see the excitement and buzz being generated prior to a tournament of this magnitude, here in the UAE,” Mr. Sunil Gavaskar, Interim President, BCCI-IPL, said.

Mr. Ranjib Biswal, Chairman of the IPL Governing Council, is just as excited to share the event with the cricketing fraternity and people of the UAE.

“I want to thank the UAE government, the Emirates Cricket Board, the administrations of Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, as well as the three sports councils, for their support and commitment to host the IPL. The 20 matches to be played in the UAE will feature top cricketers from all over the world. I am sure that the opportunity to witness their heroes in action will prompt them to flock to the stadiums,” he said.

The Emirates Cricket Board has a proven track record in terms of hosting significant cricket series and tournaments. The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2014, was held here recently. “The venues in the UAE have hosted some extraordinary international matches recently, and I am certain that everyone can expect some unforgettable cricket, in the UAE leg of the Pepsi IPL 2014,” Mr. Omar Al Askari, Director, Emirates Cricket Board, said.

With preparations in full swing across all three regions, the online sale of tickets will commence tomorrow (Thursday, 3 April 2014) on www.iplt20.com and www.ticketmaster.ae. They will also be available at selected Lulu Hypermarkets in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, fromSunday, 6 April 2014, whilst stadium box-office sales will start on Thursday, 10 April 2014.

The tickets will be available in different denominations. The minimum price for the Abu Dhabi matches is AED20 for a single match, and AED30 for double-headers. In Dubai, a ticket for one match will start at AED30, and AED50 for double-headers. In Sharjah, tickets will start at UED30 for a single match, and AED40 for the double-headers.

Dubai is a well-known destination for top sporting academies, and the teams will have the privilege of training at the state-of-the-art ICC Cricket Academy.

“We are excited to see the best players in the world play on our shores and in front of the UAE fans. The UAE is home to sports-loving people, it has wonderful cricket facilities, and the sport is run by a body – the Emirates Cricket Board – that loves the game, and will work tirelessly with the BCCI to deliver a memorable experience in the first leg of the Pepsi IPL 2014,” Mr. David East, Chief Executive, Emirates Cricket Board, said.

"We are sure that the UAE leg of the Pepsi IPL 2014 will demonstrate the UAE's ability to host major events and welcome visitors to our lands," Dr. Ahmed AlSharif, Secretary-General, Dubai Sports Council, commented.